Some of you may be wondering why I’ve been paying attention to this whole Rush Limbaugh dust-up. If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time, then you no doubt know why. I believe it is an urgent priority to sound the alarm about President Obama’s HHS mandate.
The mandate is perhaps the single biggest challenge to religious liberty in the history of our republic. And yet the American public by and large seems to be unaware of this. Americans seem to have accepted the narrative that this is about women’s rights and contraception.
Yet, no party to this debate is arguing that contraceptives should be outlawed or that women shouldn’t have access to them. The debate is over who should pay for them. It is a violation of free exercise to require conscientious employers to foot the bill for services they abhor.
But that is not what the public thinks. Very few people know that the HHS mandate tramples the free exercise clause of the first amendment. It’s actually pretty scary when you consider how effective the left has been in spinning the single greatest threat to religious liberty in our lifetimes. And Limbaugh seems to have played right into their spin machine. That is why I care about this.
Limbaugh offered a full-throated apology on his program today, and I am grateful that he did. But again, I think the damage has been done. We were already playing from behind in the court of public opinion, and now we are further back than ever as a result of Limbaugh’s remarks. I don’t think his apology today changes that.
8 Comments
A. B. Caneday
“The mandate is perhaps the single biggest challenge to religious liberty in the history of our republic. And yet the American public by and large seems to be unaware of this. Americans seem to have accepted the narrative that this is about women’s rights and contraception.”
It is true that the President’s mandate is a massive assault against religious liberty. Of course, in reality, it is a massive assault against freedom of conscience for all Americans.
It is exasperating how successfully the Obama Administration and the media have made the whole point of the squabble to be a “Catholic thing.” It is not a “Catholic thing.” It is also a “Protestant thing,” if not an “American thing.” What is also disappointing is that last week Rush Limbaugh descended to the tactics of political leftists, a point he properly made today in a suitably chastened manner.
For more on how President Obama’s mandate affects everyone of us, including the institution at which I teach, see a recent post on my blog.
President Obama’s Mandate Assaults Freedom of Conscience for All Americans, Not Just for Catholics
JStanton
“What is also disappointing is that last week Rush Limbaugh descended to the tactics of political leftists, a point he properly made today in a suitably chastened manner. ”
Have you ever listened to Rush Limbaugh before? The man has played down in the gutter for most of his career. It’s not something that started last week. He might play for your team but he is not a role model worth supporting. He did not apologize out of remorse for his cruelty but to prevent further loss of advertisers.
A. B. Caneday
Yes, I have listened to Rush Limbaugh to know his schtick and style.
Wow! So you actually know the man’s true intentions? You confidently know that his apology was not out of any remorse. Even more, you confidently know that he apologized simply to avoid loss of advertisers? Amazing!
Did you listen to his apologies today? I did. I have no other option but to believe that his apologies are genuine.
JStanton
No, I’m no mind reader. But having listened to Rush extensively out of a strange curiosity I know he’s about as sincere as those political leftists with whom you compared Rush. Why should I take a man of low moral character at his word?
Denny Burk
Thanks, Ardel. Great to hear from you!
A. B. Caneday
Denny,
Thanks for addressing President Obama’s unconstitutional and unconscionable mandate. Is there much activity at SBTS & Boyce on this issue. I am troubled that only a few CCCU colleges and universtiies have taken the bold step of proceeding with legal action to stop the President’s mandate. I wonder why the CCCU itself is not taking such action instead of simply sending a letter of protest.
We are living in grave days.
Christiane
The damage IS done.
Joseph
“President Obama’s HHS mandate is a watershed moment for religious liberty in the United States, and I believe there is a grave showdown on the horizon. If the mandate is allowed to stand, countless Americans will be forced to violate their consciences and their religion in order to comply. Many of them will refuse to obey this unjust law and will either close up shop or incur penalties for breaking the law. In the very near future, many citizens will find that following their religious beliefs is against the law. For these Americans, the stakes could not be any higher or more serious.”
I heartily agree with the above comment. We as a family are talking and discussing the ‘conscience’ thing and how we need to formulate our response in order to not comply and possibly face charges and/or penalties. The Scriptures teach and encourage us that we will be faced with making these kinds of decisions and need to stand for the truth at an expense that will be very costly. However, our joy and hope should be in following the truth because in that we will be blessed.